MEMPHIS – Northwestern State sophomore pitcher
Bronte Rhoden produced another solid start Sunday, and junior E.C. Delafield provided the finishing touches on a 4-3 win against Northern Illinois to cap the Blues City Classic.
Rhoden recorded 20 of the 21 outs in the finale win, but Northern Illinois threatened with its last out with a Kara Apato single and an Anne Allen walk as the Huskies tried to tie the game.
NSU (11-7) called on Delafield to get the final out, and she faced NIU (5-10) stud Katie Keller, who was 3-for-3 on the day and batting over .400 on the season.
Delafield struck Keller out in her only batter faced, posting her first save of the season and second of her career.
Rhoden (3-2) recorded her second win of the weekend, allowing three runs on eight hits with two strikeouts.
"Bronte was crisp, went deep in the game and gave us a chance to win," said NSU coach
Donald Pickett. "She worked a few quick innings, and she had one bad pitch in which she gave up the two-run home run (in the sixth inning).
"Bronte was a little tired in the seventh inning, and (NIU's Keller) had been on her all day, so we went with E.C. E.C. would tell you that she hasn't been as sharp as she'd like to be, but she's had good relief appearances Saturday and now today. She did a great job relief, and I think she'll ride that confidence to get back on track."
Freshman
Kat Marshall supplied all three of NSU's RBIs in the win.
Marshall drove in pinch runner
Makenzie Chaffin in the fourth inning to tie the game 1-1. Chaffin ran for
Alexis Perry who doubled and walked Sunday.
NIU starter Sam Mallinder skirted NSU base runners throughout her five innings, but when the Huskies turned to reliever Delaney Ostrowski, Marshall made NIU pay.
Ostrowski entered in the sixth inning after Mallinder walked Perry to lead off the inning, and Marshall clubbed a two-run home run to put NSU up 3-1.
"Kat did a really gob. We were struggling a little bit coming off a tough loss (Saturday night), and we didn't have as much energy as we would have liked early today," Pickett said. "They switched pitchers, and Kat was aggressive early in the count and delivered a big blow.
"That gave us a little bit of a cushion and jump started us in the game."
Marshall (2-for-4) smashed two home runs this weekend and has three this season. The freshman continues her hot start with a team-high 18 RBIs, all in the last 12 games.
NSU added an insurance run when
Kaitlyn St. Clair stole home to build a 4-1 edge. St. Clair recorded one of her three walks Sunday and stole home with runners on the corners.
Rhoden shook off an early NIU run in the second inning when Bianca Barone drove in a run with a two-out single. Barone's single plated Carley Goetschius, who led off with a double.
Trailing 4-1, NIU climbed back into the game when Carley Goetschius hit a two-run home run. Keller also scored after leading off with a single.
The Lady Demons capped the Blues City Classic with a 3-2 record, adding the NIU win to victories against Western Illinois and Evansville.
NSU dropped contests to host Memphis and North Alabama.
The Lady Demons have another busy week upcoming, heading to Grambling for a 3 p.m. game and starting Southland Conference play at home against Sam Houston State in a weekend series.
